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Scottish Care & UWS sign Strategic Partnership Agreement

Professor Ehsan Mesbahi, UWS Vice Principal (Academic) and Dr Donald Macaskill, Scottish Care CEO

Scottish Care and the University of the West of Scotland

Scottish Care is delighted to announce that we have agreed the terms of a Strategic Partnership Agreement with the University of the West of Scotland (UWS). The Agreement was signed on 10th September with representatives from both organisations expressing their hope that the Partnership would serve to benefit both Scottish Care members and the University which serves a wide area of central and western Scotland.

The initial stage of the Partnership Agreement will see both organisations working together on specific projects relating to:

  •  Work into person-led and self-directed care
  •  Workforce development and wellbeing
  •  Research into complex needs, including: frailty, palliative & end of life care

Initial activity for the first year includes a particular focus on ensuring that nursing in the social care sector is given a particular priority and focus through  the development of innovative learning and placement opportunities as well as a particular focus on re-envisioning social care qualifications.

Dr Donald Macaskill, Scottish Care CEO said:

“I am delighted that we have formed this Partnership. I hope that over the coming months and years both organisations can combine our individual skills and expertise to ensure that there is very real benefit for those who work in social care across Scotland, and that together we can work towards improving the care and support of all our citizens.”

Julie Edgar, Dean of the School of Health & Life Sciences at UWS, said:

“The University offers a range of academic programmes in health and social care, from foundation courses to doctorates requiring hands-on and practical learning. Real-life experience is not only beneficial for our students entering careers in healthcare, but also for our researchers, to support and help shape solutions for the challenges facing the sector and wider society.

“Our partnership with Scottish Care will not only provide an opportunity for students to put what they’re learning into practice, but also for researchers to work closely with the independent healthcare industry to inform best practice and policy.”

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Kaleidoscope of Care – last few places remaining

The Workforce Matters team will be hosting an event focusing on recruitment, retention and fair work on 28 September at Strathclyde University.

For more details on the Kaleidoscope of Care event, including the programme and how to register to come along, please click below:

#careaboutcare

#kaleidoscope

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Care Home Awards 18: Final days to enter

Nominations to our National Care Home Awards 18 will close this Friday (31 August), so if you wish to enter please make sure you do so by then.

Preparations are already well underway for a fantastic night of celebration at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow, where excellence in care from our members around the country will receive the recognition it deserves. The awards, dinner and after party will be held on 16 November, so if you want to be there, make sure you submit your entry before the deadline!

For details on the 13 categories and how to nominate please click below:

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News Release: TechRights paper launched at unique Scottish Care event

NEWS RELEASE

At an event in central Glasgow today (Friday 24th August), Scottish Care, with the support of the Clydesdale Bank, is hosting the first ever dedicated event to be held in Scotland on technology and its use in older people’s care and support.

Tech Care, Care Tech is being held in the Strathclyde University Technology and Innovation Centre.

Technology has an increasingly important role to play in all our lives. In social care, technology is being used to enable individuals to maintain their independence for as long as possible, to support staff more effectively in their work, and to ensure that individuals remain in control of their supports for as long as possible.

This unique event brings together over 140 people including designers and developers alongside those using and working in social care services. Through a set of interactive workshops participants will hear about cutting edge innovation, contribute their own ideas and have an opportunity to consider what technology might mean for them in their home or workplace. The event will explore some of the most creative technologies now available and some which are currently under development.

The event also sees the launch a new report on the issue of human rights and ethics as they relate to the use of technology in older person’s care in Scotland. Written by Scottish Care CEO Dr Donald Macaskill, ‘Tech Rights’, addresses some of the challenges which the increased use of technology including ‘care-bots’, and ‘sensor devices’ are now posing for developers and older people.

The report contains a number of recommendations, including:

  • that the Scottish Government should fund and support the creation a human-rights based Ethical Charter for Technology and Digital in Scotland;
  • that we should establish a Scottish Centre for Human Rights and Ethics in Technology;
  • that we should develop a national awareness and information strategy around the positive use of technology for social care and
  • that we should develop and resource the social care workforce to enable today’s workforce to be innovators and co- designers.

Dr Donald Macaskill, said:

“The whole day is an attempt to recognise that we live in a dynamic and fast changing world where technology has the potential to do so much which is good for the care of our older citizens. But the day will also reflect on some of the dangers and limitations of technology, and how we need to develop a human rights and ethical framework for the use of this amazing technology. We have to start having the debate about whether we have a human right to be cared for by a human being rather than just by a machine. Many of us live with smart technology in our homes every day – but have we really given thought to the way in which the data gathered by these devices is being used and by whom?

“Scotland has been a proud defender and promotor of human rights within social care and health. I believe there is a real opportunity, faced with the challenges of Artificial Intelligence and wider technology, for Scotland to be at the forefront of the debate around the role of ethics and human rights of technology.

“There is an urgent need to collectively develop an ethical and human rights-based foundation for the future design, development and use of technology within social care, and indeed, more generally in Scottish society. Without such a foundation and the establishment of clear human rights principles there is a very real possibility that the opportunities of this new age will remain untapped.”

Derek Breingan, National Head of Health & Social Care Sector, Clydesdale Bank said:

"With growing demand for care services, and a forecast shortage of carers, there is no doubt that the sector will have to embrace technology if we are to continue to provide the necessary levels of care and support. At Clydesdale Bank we are already seeing some of our health and social care customers introduce new products, systems and equipment to assist delivery of services but the pace of change across the sector is generally slow. That is why we are sponsoring this event with Scottish Care to help explore and discuss the current technology available and learn about what might be available in the future to ensure more providers of care services are informed."

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Social Services Expo – 26 September 2018

Social Services Expo

The Social Work Services Strategic Forum is bringing the Scottish Social Services Expo to BT Murrayfield Stadium on 26 September 2018. This day will recognise and celebrate the work of the social services sector in Scotland and will provide an opportunity to learn about current innovation and developments across our social services.

The event will be for social services practitioners from all areas including local government, the voluntary and independent sectors. It is a one day event which will comprise a mixture of workshops, speakers and a market place to showcase innovative services and approaches from across the sector. The event will be free to attend as a delegate. Further details and booking information via the link below:

Social Services Expo 2018

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Statement on the need for an Independent Commission on Funding Social Care

Scottish Care Statement in response to recent media:

Dr Donald Macaskill, CEO Scottish Care commented:

“The way in which we fund social care is critical to creating Scotland into a place which we all want to grow old in. Scottish Care has for some time been calling on all political parties to get around the table and establish an Independent Commission on Funding Social Care. This is an urgent task. In order to maximise the benefits of having people live longer, to build on the potential of health and social care integration, and to address the crisis in social care service sustainability we need to start urgently to plan for our future.

The Which report highlighting the lack of planning people make for their future and the potential of a Care ISA south of the border add even greater urgency to this debate.

If we are to continue to have and to further develop high quality rights based care for all our older citizens in Scotland then we need to start planning. The alternative is to sleep walk into a future where those who can afford to will purchase high quality care and those who cannot will be left with a poorly funded, resource drained, lesser alternative.”

Ends.

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Care Home Awards 2018 – 2 weeks left to nominate

There is just a fortnight left to make a nomination to our National Care Home Awards 2018, so if you have an individual or team in mind that you'd like to put forward, please do so by August 31st.

To read more about the 13 categories and how to make a nomination, please click on the button below:

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Care Home Conference 2018 – Early bird tickets available

Preparations for the National Care Home Conference, Exhibition & Awards 2018 are well under way and Scottish Care is delighted to offer Early Bird rates on tickets for members until 6 September. 

A Caring Place will be held on 16 November at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow.

The conference contains a mixture of key contributions.  As well as creative, practical and policy sessions, the event will focus on the significant role care home services play in ensuring individuals are able to remain connected to their communities.   

Scottish Care will also be launching our new research report at the Conference, which will focus on the changing role of care homes from a variety of perspectives. Part of this research is premised on capturing the experiences of front line workers, residents and families. 

For full details on this event, including information on the day itself and how to secure your tickets at the reduced rate of £54 +VAT please click on the link below: